Marcel Duchamp in Munich 1912

The iconoclastic creations of Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968) radically changed the 20th century art as well as our notion of it. Munich's role in this is worthy of note. Annoyed at the rejections of his painting Nude Descending a Staircase, No.2 by the Salon des Indépendants, Duchamp traveled to Munich in late June 2012. He would ultimately remain for nearly three months, developing and preparing several important works including The Large Glass. A Deutsches Museum and the Bavarian Trade Fair, he discovered important technical details that inspired his readymades: the first readymade ever--Bicycle Wheel--was assembled the year following his stay in Munich. Duchamp would later say: "My stay in Munich was the scene of my complete liberation."